Photo: Michael J Brethour
Police Chief moves ahead with order of respirators and gas masks
The Belleville Police Service is moving ahead with the purchase of gas masks and respirators for all front line officers.
Chief Ron Gignac has pushed the need for the equipment due to increased incidents of officers being confronted with noxious chemicals and drugs, including one at a Belleville hotel earlier this summer.
The masks come in at a cost of just over $61,300 and are expected to be delivered by mid-October, with the Emergency Response Team being the first group to have them.
Chief Gignac says the city will get the tax back on the capital purchase.
Rampart Corporation will also be sending staff to train two local officers to ensure all of the equipment fits properly, as it comes in and is distributed to the rest of the police force.
Request for new full time ICE officers
Belleville’s Police Chief is asking the Police Services Board to hire two new officers in an effort to crack down on internet and child exploitation (ICE) crimes.
Chief Ron Gignac says the police forces lone part time ICE investigator has become overwhelmed with the amount of cases being worked on and there is a drastic need for more staff to combat these types of crimes.
He’s asking that two new full time sworn officers be hired, along with a full time ICE investigator for the Criminal Investigations Branch and a full time technology analyst, to analyze computers and other technology for evidence of child porn, child exploitation and other tech-crimes.
The Belleville Police Services Board meets Thursday morning, at 10:00 a.m. at Belleville City Hall.
